Really?

That's all you've got, Mother Nature? 

I hope you are spending your extra day this year doing something you love!  We are all home playing in the snow, fighting, and asking for snacks!  Just another typical day at the Melius house. :o)

Snowless Snow Day

It's official.  Kids these days really do have it better than we ever did.  Today they had the first snowless snow day I have ever seen!
Last night our school and several other area schools cancelled for today because of the impending storm.
It is now 3:30pm and this is still the view from my office window.  In the past few minutes, a few snowflakes are just starting to fall. 
This blizzard looks an awful lot like Sunday/Monday's Daytona 500.  I'm beginning to wonder if it is going to happen or not!  Of course, for my husband and all who have mama and baby calves to worry about, I hope it doesn't turn out as bad as predicted. 

Snow or not, I can still enjoy my last few sips of chai green tea while baby is napping.
Stay warm and cozy!

Hunker Down Day

By this time last year, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself after weathering (no pun intended) one blizzard and snow storm after another.  That is not the case this year.  It is almost March and this is our first "Hunker Down Day" of the winter.  Have you seen the weather?  The whole state is in the path of a blizzard set to hit tomorrow and last through Wednesday.

And what did I do today to prepare for the big storm?  I went all natural and made my own granola.  Yep, that's right.  I was paging through a cookbook as I was drinking my mid-morning coffee and found a couple recipes for granola.  I had all of the ingredients, so why not?  I combined the two, added a few of my own ingredients and--wallah--homemade granola.  There are so many things you could add to this: raisins, craisins, dried apples . . . . I'm not saying this is the best granola recipe in the world, but it is pretty tasty!

Granola

5 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup flaked coconut

2/3 cup sunflower kernels

2/3 cup almonds

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup canola oil

dash or two salt

2 T cinnamon (I used apple pie spice)

1 T vanilla

Lightly oil a large roaster and combine the dry ingredients.  Bake at 300 for 20 minutes, stirring several times.  Meanwhile, in a saucepan, simmer sugar, honey, oil, and spice.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour over baked dry ingredients and stir.  Bake for 5 minutes more.  Stir again and bake 5 more minutes.  Cool and crumble apart.  Stir in an air tight container.

And, with that, we are ready for the snow!  In addition to our yummy granola, we have enough Wheaties, milk, Pepsi, and the Golf channel to keep my husband happy for a couple of days at least.  After that, it will be time to dig out again!





Best Chocolate Chip Bars in the Whole Wide World

My sister-in-law Katie would never admit it, but she is a fabulous cook.  She shared this recipe with me awhile back and it is a definite keeper.  David usually only eats cookies, but he loves these.  (Granted, they do bear a close resemblance to a cookie.)  Nathan said he couldn't even stop LOOKING at these when I made them last week.  Even with putting most of them in the freezer, they were gone within a few days.  The boys came in the house after school two days in a row and headed straight to the freezer for a chocolate chip bar.

It is a cold, windy Sunday here in South Dakota.  Why not whip up a batch for yourself today?

Chocolate Chip Bars

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 cup butter

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 3 oz. pkg instant french vanilla pudding

1 bag chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients.  Press into an ungreased 9x13 pan and bake at 375 degrees for 17 minutes or until set and brown.

Happy Belated Blog-o-versary

I missed my big Blog-o-versary back in January.  I published my first post on January 5, 2009.  Remember that one? 
You didn't? 
Don't feel bad.  I didn't either, so I had to review.  It seems some things haven't changed all that much in these past three years!  (If you wish to relive the magic of where this all started, too, you can find the The First Post here.)
As you may have noticed, this blog is just like me--a dabbler in all sorts of things.  I've never been one to devote my entire life to one subject.  I just have too many things I want to try (or dream of trying) to focus on just one thing!  Of course, the downside to that is I am a "jack of all trades, master of none," but so be it. 
That's ME.   
You could probably sum up this blog the same way you can sum up my priorities in life: FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS, and FOOD.
What's coming up? 
Probably more of the same with better pictures from my new camera.  Although this won't become a photography blog, I am learning more about DSLR photography and am loving it!  (Add that to my list of trades.)  Oh--and I've been watching The Nate Berkus Show daily, so expect some furniture re- upholstery and painting projects, too!
It has been awhile since I have thanked you for stopping by, so I want to make sure you know how much I appreciate your taking the time to read these words.  I always love it when people tell me this blog is a break in their work day, the playlist is their favorite "radio station," a post is an inspiration to them, or that my family makes theirs feel normal. 
(Does that mean that we're BOTH normal, or that mine is just weird?)  Never mind.  Don't tell me. :o)

Thanks for coming along on the journey. 

Don't ever forget we're all in this together.